Argumentation: Are Zoos Ethical?

A distinct difference I noticed while reading Zoo Ethics was the inclusion of counter-arguments. While Jenny Gray advocates for modern zoos and their importance, she does acknowledge an opposing perspective. She recognizes that some animals are "not to be caged”. Blackfish used perspectives from the same argument. This was to create opinion and disagreement towards SeaWorld. Although Cowperthwaite attempted to reach out to SeaWorld for questioning, they turned down the offer. This lack of a counter-argument fuels the audiences anger towards the subject of attack. The other side of the story is missing, so there is no defense in place. In this case, a lack of a counter-argument was effective. On the other hand, Gray uses that counter-argument to strengthen her argument. The inclusion exemplifies her empathy for wild animals, but she also encourages conservation. This follows the light-hearted and informative tone of the book, but it also strengthens her appeal to both emotion and credibility. She is addressing those she previously stated were slightly ignorant by telling them that she understands where they are coming from. This makes that side of the readers more willing to accept her argument.

A major takeaway from my reading is that an author must know what will specifically work for their argument. What works for another’s writing might not work for yours, and that is okay. As long as you can reach out to the audience in an effective way, you can choose the necessary strategies to get you there. This is where assumptions come into place. An author must assume that this is what their reader wants to hear and this is what will help the reader receive that message.